Supporting Transgender, Nonbinary, & Queer Students
Queer Resource Center (QRC)
PSU's Queer Resource Center supports students who are trans, nonbinary, and queer, as well as students who are questioning their gender identity and sexual orientation. Portland State University's Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment policy lists gender expression and sexual orientation as a protected class and instructors must honor the name, gender identity, and pronouns that students provide to their instructors. You can take steps to provide a supportive classroom environment, and resources exist on campus to assist students outside of the classroom.
The following are a few ideas on how you can support non-binary, trans, and queer students in the classroom. In classes where you would call roll or take attendance verbally consider calling all students by their last name without a Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. salutation. Ask students to tell you their preferred first name and pronoun. Introduce yourself with your pronouns to model how to introduce pronouns. Interrupt classroom language that is homophobic or transphobic or denigrates queer and trans people. QRC staff are available to help faculty who want to integrate queer and trans topics into their curriculum.
Other resources for nonbinary, trans, and queer students include:
All Gender Housing offered by University Housing and Residence Life
Preferred Name (accessible through Banweb)
Advanced Preferred Name (accessible by talking to a QRC staff person or the Office of the Registrar)
All Gender Shower and Changing Facilities in Campus Rec
Trans Inclusive Insurance options through Student Health and Counseling
Please stop by our office in Smith Memorial Student Union room 458. You can also reach us by phone at 503-725-9742 or you can email us at qrc@pdx.edu.
Services for Students with Children (SSWC)
Services for Students with Children (SSWC) offers support and informational resources to student parents of transgender or gender variant children. The RCSC’s Lending Library (link to lending library) offers a wide variety of parenting books for student parents and their children to checkout for information on supporting their trans/gender variant students in the classroom. For more information, please stop by the Resource Center for Students with Children located in Smith Memorial Student Union, Suite 462, visit the SSWC website at pdx.edu/students-with-children, contact us by phone at 503-725-9878 or email us at sswc@pdx.edu.
Student Legal Services (SLS)
There are a variety of services of particular interest to nonbinary, trans, and queer students through Student Legal Services. SLS can assist trans students with legal procedures such as legal name and gender changes. Student Legal Services also advises on many family law issues affecting nonbinary, trans, and queer students, such as domestic partnerships and divorce. For more information, please visit our website at www.pdx.edu/sls/ or contact us directly at 503-725-4556.
Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC)
The Center for Student Health & Counseling (SHAC) recognizes the importance of providing competent health and counseling services to all individuals regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. SHAC strives to provide an environment that is inclusive to and affirming of transgender, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, queer, and similarly self-identified students. PSU's SHAC has led the way, having been one of the first universities to offer students a healthcare plan that covers both gender-affirming healthcare for the last decade. SHAC uses the informed consent model which means following appropriate education and advisement about the treatment in question; the final decision regarding treatment choice rests with the patient alone.
SHAC offers individual counseling for transgender and queer students, including staff who write letters of support which may be needed for student having surgery or needing documentation. SHAC also has two physicians on staff who are experienced and trained in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and are available to begin or continue care. In addition, SHAC has a Trans Health Advocate who meets with students interested in seeking more information about HRT or surgery, helps coordinate information necessary for insurance purposes, and assists students in finding providers in the area.
Office of Equity and Compliance (OEC)
If a student, faculty or staff member believes they are being discriminated against or discriminatorily harassed on the basis of their gender identity or expression or any other protected class as well as being sexually harassed, they may file a complaint or consult with members of the Office Equity and Compliance, including PSU’s Title IX Coordinator. You may file a complaint online or speak with a member of the Equity and Compliance Team by calling 503-725-5919.
